Reggae Revival for SNWMF

I have spent the last year and half witnessing in Jamaica, Europe and the US the emergence of many young wonderful rising reggae stars from Jamaica known as the Reggae Revival. There is so much talent there, I want to propose SNWMF dedicate a four to six hour slot to a selection of these artists. One can pick from Chronixx, Protoje, Jesse Royal, Kelissa McDonald, Jah 9, Keznamdi, Kabaka Pyramid, Micah Shemiah, Iba Mahr, Romain Virgo, Tarrus Riley (yes, Tarris is included- many more artists), bands like Pentateuch, Raging Fyah, and more. Yaardcore could even select one night in the dancehall.

Yes! Please make this happened. It would be awesome. All those artist mentioned above are making really good reggae music. I say Protoje, Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, and Jah9. They have a lot of music together, so it would be great to see them all together in one stage.

Reggae Revival is far from a marketing term. It is a movement, to me, much like the musical revolution of the seventies. The Reggae Revival is a growing group of artists, not just singers and players. It includes graphic artists, photographers, videographers, etc who work as a collective to bring conscious music back to the youth and the world. Many of these artists studied at Edna Manley College and are professionally trained (i.e. Protoje) and have the collective influence and power to try to get the youth of Jamaica back on track. They have made MAJOR inroads. They don't care if you refer to them as the Reggae Revival or not. They care about the purpose and outcome. Dutty Bookman, Rasta author of Tried and True, is writing a next book called Reggae Revival and the term came from him.

I have witnessed over the past year the performances of many of these artists in Jamaica, Europe and USA. They are not just performers, they are heavy thinkers and through their interviews, song lyrics and dedication to the mission, they are making major inroads in the way reggae is viewed across the world.

Reggae Revival also does not imply that reggae was ever dead. What they bring to the world is a 'collective' working together instead of individually to turn the tide on the negative culture that has become prevalent in Jamaica.

The last thing I will say is THEY ARE TALENTED....right now, I can't get enough of Kelissa McDonald who tours and opens for CHronixx. Her brother is Keznamdi. Check out Kelissa's song Africa and Babylon is Burning. WIKKED!!!! I believe she will be a radio guest on my show this Sunday.

Very well said Sista Irie, and great suggestion indeed. This movement of artists (musical, visual, and literary) has been growing for about 5 years now inside Jamaica and is about to explode globally. It does not matter what you want to call it or not call it. The Europeans have already tasted and embraced the movement, so I say to the USA "Welome The Rasta Youths"

hmmm. interesting..... thanks for the additional info Sista Irie.... i'm not unaware of those under this newly coined umbrella, just think the phrase is pretty over the top in it's claim... but if as you say, the artists themselves are not using that term, then it's just a term for journalists to use to hype the new batch of talent under a common moniker....

A close examination of what has transpired in music production and promotion inside Jamaica over the past 15 to 20 years would clearly demonstrate that there is absolutely nothing at all that is "over the top" about the claim that Jamaica is experiencing a revival, resurgence, or whatever you may want to call it, of Rasta Reggae music. Many of the artists identified in the movement accept the term "Reggae Revival" and openly identify with it. The point I think Sista Irie is making, is that there is a real movement taking place, and many persons, artists included, regard it as a revival of roots Reggae music coming from inside Jamaica.

I've posted this before, but to me this is just an incredible example of some of the the talent involved, just really great stuff as far as current musical collaborations are concerned (music starts about a half minute into video):

i hear ya on the points being made.... i guess after years of working in the advertising industry i am very skeptical of these types of things and the labels given to new things (a "movement" in this case)..... like i said, if it is a case where others identify as being part of the "revival" vs. some artist claiming "they are" part of it..... then i see whats up and why the term is used....

Hi Grade, there is nothing wrong with being cynical and remaining observant. My middle name should be cynical and quite frankly most marketing efforts I abhor.

You will probably have to experience for yourself over time what is going on because it is not easy to describe. What I most compare it with is the community of young people who converged in the sixties to stop the Viet Nam War and to fight for Civil and Women's rights. The way we all came together to discuss politics, strategies, creating a clear mission and we even had a musical component that accompanied the social activism. That feeling of the seventies, the dedication to make the world, especially your own back yard a better place, is what I feel from these artists.

I have personally observed the thinking and reasoning of Protoje from his own yard in Jamaica and came away feeling like I had been in the midst of a greater power. Trust me, these young people are very intellectual and use their talent to move the marble. Jamaica as a country has little to no impact on improving the ghetto mentality. These rising artists are setting a new example not just through their music but through their forward thinking. They are talented, educated, innovative and dedicated to improve the world.

I suggest for anyone not very familiar to start reading interviews (there is a good one on Youtube with Kelissa and Chronixx) where they discuss their goals and ambitions. Protoje tells people- dont get caught up with the name of the movement. Get caught up in its mission.

Look out for the launch of Island Stage Magazine in January. Protoje on the cover and a nice article on the Reggae Revival. I will write an article about Dutty Bookman's book Tried and True and his work with RR.

Protoje sure comes from a talented family. His mother (and manager) is none other than Ms. "Breakfast in Bed" Lorna Bennett, a terrific singer who studied law during her musical career and has been practicing law since the mid-'70s. She still occasionally performs and writes songs. His father, Michael Ollivierre, also known as 'Lord Have Mercy,' is a former Calypso King in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His cousin is well-known Jamaican producer Donovan “Don Corleone” Bennett, with whom Protoje helped run a soundsystem. Oje cites Hugh Mundell as one of his vocal influences. Can't go too far wrong with that.

"Reggae Revival is a cultural movement of rising consciousness originating in Jamaica. It is an explosion of artistic expressions with music at the forefront, gradually influencing the mentality of the present generation toward positivity, Afrocentric spirituality and self-determination all over the world."

QuoteThe Reggae Revival is a growing group of artists, not just singers and players. It includes graphic artists, photographers, videographers, etc who work as a collective to bring conscious music back to the youth and the world.

I had always 'presumed' that Reggae Revival was just a term associated with the latest crop of upcoming roots artists (something which has been periodically happening in reggae music for decades now. But your post seems to suggest much more than that so I would be most interested to learn more about how these artists "work as a collective" Sis.....

Greetings Daniel, I am hoping Lloyd will add to my response since he is the reason I first came to know Protoje at SXSW.... and as time went on, I have been spending time closely observing the works of many other members of the movement. He was my introduction to these artists and since that time, I have been interacting and supporting their work to the best of my ability.

When I say a collective, I would describe the Reggae Revival as a progressive group of talented artists who consistently and visibly demonstrate support for each other by enhancing each other's works through whatever artistic talent they have. They participate in each other's videos, often bring each other on stage, call out each other's works publicly, and use their innovative creativity whether it is writing, video, photography, poster art, etc. to increase and enhance recognition of the message. Their mission is to bring a conscious awareness back to the island and globally especially by inspiring other youth to lead a more positive life. They are deep thinkers who spend alot of time with each other reasoning and sharing their talents in ways that further supports the collective movement. It is the integration of their works and constant support of each other in every way possible that makes this different than those artists of the past.

To get a good understanding of some of those who are not performers, check out Dutty Bookman, the book author, and El Puru, photographer/videographer. They are both on Facebook and contribute a great deal along with other non-musical artists and administrators who support the music artists. Donisha Pendergrast is a video producer and educator and Taj Francis are all names associated with the Reggae Revival and through their works, you will easily see how integrated all of these efforts are.

It is important to keep in mind that this is not a formal organization. There is an Arts and Culture non-profit organization for youth development and empowerment called ManifestoJamaica and several of these artists are members.

Daniel, as Sista Irie says, the term Reggae Revival has been used to describe what has been observed as a movement of young artists of various disciplines working on a common cause to empower, uplift and build awareness while supporting each others creative works. Many of the persons identified as part of this movement are literary and visual artists, such as writers, photographers, videographers, graphic artists, as well as administrators and publicists. Many are graduates of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, where their bonds of friendship were sealed. As far as I know, the Reggae Revival is not a formal organization. There is however an official website and an official Facebook page:

In looking over the roster of artists that have appeared at this festival over the past 12 years, one could easily say that the "Reggae Revival" has already been in full effect at SNWMF. Below are just a sampling of the "emerging" artists that have performed at this festival. Granted, not all of them are Jamaican. Some are not even reggae and some have not gone on to be 'stars' but they ARE evidence that this festival has been livicated to bringing fresh new roots music to the people for a long time now (to say nothing about all the 'living legends of reggae' that California may never have had the opportunity to see were it not for SNWMF).

I would be FULLY SUPPORTIVE of seeing a slew of the new artists mentioned in this thread. The problem, as I see it, is that the price of such a showcase would have to correspond to the 'draw' they would have, but if they came 'correct' (price wise) like the "V.I. Roots Eruption" did in 2005, it could easily come to fruition....

Ahhhh....Daniel, you hit the nail right on the head. Everything you said is exactly why SNWMF is the perfect USA festival to be first to promote a slate of artists from this movement. The festivals in Europe are already all over it and several of these artists are already booked for Rebel Salute. SNWMF is a premier top notch, well organized, well run festival focused on new movement in the industry and adds the perfect compliment by including legendary foundation acts. That same formula is perfect for a group of RR artists. The only difference I can land on is in this case it is a slate of performers (small slate or large slate) who work in unity enhancing each other's work directly and are on the ground floor in Jamaica revitalizing a broken industry.

The movement being described as the Reggae Revival is a Jamaican phenomenon that is now spreading and being recognized globally. Anyone with an interest in the advancement and preservation of Roots Reggae from Jamaica should either try to visit Jamaica for some first hand exposure, or do some research on what has been happening musically and culturally on the island for the past 15-20 years, and what is happening today.

I particularly like this portion of the duttyism page you linked to Ras Adam (thought I would suggest it is a day-to-day thing and not just something for reggae in 2014):

"In 2014 people will have to decide whether or not they will be honest with themselves; and whether or not they will share the energy of love with their fellow human beings. I dare say that there will be no Reggae Revival to talk about in 2015 if we don’t encourage each other in this way. I am most excited to see who are the real revolutionaries and how we will move forward." ~ Dutty Bookman

Im right in there with you Sista. This past summer was better muscally than many others preceding it. I got to see nuff "revival" artists, Protoje, Yardcore, Jesse Royal, Kelissa McDonald, Keznamdi, Iba Mahr.........most notably with a bullet Kabaka and Chronixx at ROTR.

Daniel, Great Quote post as well.

As a total hardcore dancehall fan, its a fresh breath of air to see the youth gravitate toward more positive and uplifint music. Undoubtably with folks like Buju and Vybez incarcerated, there is a void of what I would call "quality" dancehall music right now, with exception of folks like Busy Signal. The revival has definately been a welcom and refreshing movement. HiGrade, give it a listen, IMO we are not looking at a marketing fad ting here.

Yes no doubt everyone needs to eat and at the same time the people want more for the big money we shell.. Don't get me wrong, I just think more shows should have more than a big name or 2.. I'd be willing to fork over money for a quality showcase.. I think too many fillers get thrown in to make up a concert around here.. Even when gappy ranks and bobby hustle came around I was super stoked.. And that was a cheap show!!! Respect all around just saying we should all work together so everyone is happy

QuoteSista Irie
Reggae Revival is far from a marketing term. It is a movement, to me, much like the musical revolution of the seventies. The Reggae Revival is a growing group of artists, not just singers and players. It includes graphic artists, photographers, videographers, etc who work as a collective to bring conscious music back to the youth and the world. Many of these artists studied at Edna Manley College and are professionally trained (i.e. Protoje) and have the collective influence and power to try to get the youth of Jamaica back on track. They have made MAJOR inroads. They don't care if you refer to them as the Reggae Revival or not. They care about the purpose and outcome. Dutty Bookman, Rasta author of Tried and True, is writing a next book called Reggae Revival and the term came from him.

I have witnessed over the past year the performances of many of these artists in Jamaica, Europe and USA. They are not just performers, they are heavy thinkers and through their interviews, song lyrics and dedication to the mission, they are making major inroads in the way reggae is viewed across the world.

Reggae Revival also does not imply that reggae was ever dead. What they bring to the world is a 'collective' working together instead of individually to turn the tide on the negative culture that has become prevalent in Jamaica.

The last thing I will say is THEY ARE TALENTED....right now, I can't get enough of Kelissa McDonald who tours and opens for CHronixx. Her brother is Keznamdi. Check out Kelissa's song Africa and Babylon is Burning. WIKKED!!!! I believe she will be a radio guest on my show this Sunday.